Page 412 - Art and Crafts of Bangladesh

SECOND GENERATION ARTISTS 409

These sculptures include the harmonizing of smooth planes and rough
planes. Along with this, there is the importance of contour lines and lines
merging in planes. 3. He made sculptures by joining metal or wood pieces.
This can be termed as ‘Found object composed.’ Names of such sculptures
include, Construction-3 (Steel, 1980), Standing Form-1 (metal, 1983) (fig.
9.40), Standing Form (wood, 1995), Cactus (metal, 1998). In the work
Standing Form-1, one can see the combination of perforated sheet with
solid sheet and presence of some horizontal lines with vertical lines. These
works include the light synthesis of texture and lines.
The foundation of modern sculptural practice was laid through the early
works of Abdur Razzaque. As a result, his thoughts on sculpture have a
special role in the world of sculpture in Bangladesh. His interest in various
media had inspired him to create sculptures and in the early days of the
sculpture department, it was important to have examples of works in
different media. On the other hand, he was devoted to the academic style
and he was a believer in internationalism. The effort at synthesis of the
academic style with modernity, which we witness in his works, is how the
practice of sculpture in Bangladesh began. Two things played important
roles in his works. 1. Building three-dimensional expressions by
comprehending and mastering the media. 2. Modern sculptural practice as
seen by him during his time.
Abdur Razzaque had to spend a lot of time to build up the sculpture
department. He was the first teacher of all major sculptors of Bangladesh.
He not only accepted the responsibility of a teacher, he considered teaching
as an important part of his artistic life and found pleasure in this
responsibility. One can find a sensitive, lively person in all his works, as if
he was engrossed in art in search of life and he found the taste of life in art.
Abdur Razzaque had written articles on art. Starting from the early sixties
until the mid-eighties, he had taught as a part-time teacher in the
Architecture department of the Engineering University. He was involved
with a number of art related organizations.
In 1989, he was awarded Ekushey Padak (highest civilian award in Bangladesh fig. 9.40 Upright Form-
awarded by the government) as recognition of his lifetime contribution to fine arts. 1, metal, 1983
He received the Bangladesh Charu Shilpi Sangsad (organization of artists) honor in
the same year.
Abdur Razzaque died among his students on 25th October 2005 while conducting a
drawing workshop at Jessore, Charupith (a fine arts institute).

Translated by Mahmudul Hossain, Editor, Drishyaroop, Dhaka